Margaret Qualley revealed that she took a year to recover from the damage caused by the facial prosthetics she used during the filming of La sustancia. In a recent interview on the podcast Happy Sad Confused, the actress described how these prosthetics caused severe irritation to her skin, which forced the director, Coralie Fargeat, to reconfigure certain shots to avoid showing her face. “My face was so ruined that, in the end, they had to film in a different way,” she explained. “For example, the opening credits, when they filmed from below with palm trees around, that was because they could no longer shoot my face.” Additionally, the Golden Globe nominee explained that the acne caused by the prosthetics continued to affect her long after filming, even reaching her next project, Tipos gentileza, where she portrayed four different characters: Vivian, Martha, Rebecca, and Ruth. “One has acne, it was just the prosthetics,” she stated. “I took it as something positive; it fit the character, but it took me almost a year to recover physically from all that.” Despite the challenges she faced, she has emerged in one of the most talked-about films of the year, receiving praise for both the narrative proposal and her performances.
Demi Moore, who stars in the film, won her first award thanks to her role in a television series that declined, resorting to a miraculous drug to rejuvenate her image. “I really didn’t expect it,” she said during her acceptance speech. “I’ve been doing this for 45 years, and this is the first time I’ve won.” She also recalled an anecdote from 30 years ago when a producer told her that popcorn references would be successful at the box office, but she would never be praised for her acting performance. “I accepted that I believed it,” admitted Moore; however, the body thriller film changed her entire perspective on life. When the script arrived at her desk, it was a low point, but it was magical, bold, brave, and completely crazy. “The universe said: ‘You are not done yet.'”
The recognition marked a significant moment in the career of the French filmmaker, who shared her vision about La sustancia in statements following the award ceremony, highlighting the relevance of the film’s central message, which questions social pressures related to youth and beauty. “The main reason I made it is that a woman should not be judged by her appearance,” she indicated in a conversation with Variety. The director also presented multiple challenges, stating, “It was a very difficult project to realize; nobody wanted to do it. I imagined it would be loud, excessive, and violent. Seeing that award was a triumph for the risk we took together.” She reflected on what the victory means for the film industry, emphasizing the importance of taking risks and betting on original projects. “I was surprised that the Golden Globes were so bold and unique; they were all nominated. This shows that there is space for fresh, daring voices in cinema. I hope Hollywood takes note of that,” she affirmed.
Regarding her next project, the European filmmaker hinted that she will maintain her style while exploring new themes. “It will be completely different, with unexpected elements. I love doing that,” she confessed.
